Five new refugee resettlement locations

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway announced that Whanganui, Levin, Masterton, Blenheim and Timaru have been selected as refugee resettlement locations by the cross-government New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy Senior Officials’ Group.

The announcement delivers on the Government’s commitment to increase the number and spread of refugee resettlement support services so communities are prepared well before new refugees arrive.

Refugees will begin to be settled in Whanganui, Timaru and Blenheim from March 2020 while refugees will begin arriving in Masterton and Levin from May 2020. A sixth additional location will be decided shortly. The nationalities are yet to be decided.